A data-driven spatial-temporal approach to measure the influence of Mobility of care in daily travel behaviors

Keywords: Spatial-Temporal Analysis, Network Analysis, Transportation Demand Modeling, Trip Chaining
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of caregiving, or "mobility of care" trips, on everyday travel behavior through a data-driven and spatial-temporal analysis framework. It contributes to the field of transportation research by highlighting how caregiving responsibilities impact everyday travel behavior. By reconstructing daily travel trajectories to exclude caregiving trips, the study goes beyond calculating trip frequency and revealing the impact of caregiving trips on route choices and trip duration within the urban transportation system. Leveraging spatial network analysis, the research compares actual and caregiving-free trajectories, illustrating the additional time and effort caregiving entails. Findings highlight how caregiving responsibilities shift travel times and increase trip distances, as caregivers include multiple destinations in chained trips. To address a gap in traditional transportation demand models, this study underscores the importance of including caregiving as a core component, advocating for more equitable transportation planning that acknowledges the unique travel patterns of population groups disproportionately affected by caregiving, such as women, low-income individuals, and the elderly. By integrating caregiving metrics into travel demand models, this research aims to support policies that better serve diverse communities and enhance accessibility in urban transportation planning.